Ferndale art show offers holiday shopping

FERNDALE – Hundreds of people are expected to turn out Saturday for the Ridge Fine Art & Handmade Wares Show to check out and buy unique works by artists and artisans.

“It’s a really great way to start your holiday shopping,” said Siouxsan Miller, who has organized the annual event for the past 14 years. “We don’t have Christmas items or decorations but just really great handmade items that make perfect gifts.”

More than 800 people showed up for last year’s event. Miller said she expects as many people for Saturday’s show, which is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Drayton Avenue Presbyterian Church, 2441 Pinecrest.

Twenty-six Michigan artists will be on hand offering works priced from $3 to $200.

“It’s not the kind of craft fair where you are going to find jars of jellies and things like that,” Miller said. “There are a lot of different clay artists. One person does recycled wool scarves. Jewelry made with glass, semi-precious stones and clay is also always a big part of the show.”

Artists in the show are professionals and their work reflects their commitment, Miller added.

Works for sale include offerings from well-known regional artists such as Laurie Eisenhardt of Royal Oak, who does ceramics, to relative newcomers like Alysa Diebolt of Eastpointe of Brick Town Glass, who works with fused glass.

Other items at the show include hand screen-printed clothing from Lisa Boesch of Ellembee in Milford, clay jewelry by Mary Pritchard of Millersburg, Mich., hand-painted and repurposed vintage goods by Amie Hackworth of Marshall, Mich., Functional Ceramics by Janelle Songer of Birmingham, and handbags and accessories of recycled products from Studio 23ART by Christine Hough in Ferndale.

The annual art show was previously held in Pleasant Ridge, but moved to the Drayton Avenue Presbyterian Church last year.